Artwork
Little Steps, Chelsea
Little Steps, Chelsea is an ink print by the Impressionist artist James McNeill Whistler. It dates from 1885 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
- Inscription
- Inscribed:on plate: (butterfly); on tab: (butterfly) imp; lower left on verso: MK 36558; center right on verso: 6045; upside down on the tab on the verso: 213; (upside down, each I is lower case) at lower right on the verso: I/I/
About this work
Overview
Little Steps, Chelsea is an etching on laid paper created by James McNeill Whistler around 1885. The print is executed in dark brown ink.
Subject & Meaning
The etching depicts two women in a small, dimly lit room. One woman stands at the center, holding an object near her face, while the other sits on a low stool. The scene is characterized by a sense of intimacy and clutter, with tall, narrow objects lining the walls and debris scattered on the floor.
Technique & Style
The print features scratchy, uneven lines, suggesting a rapid execution. The etching technique allows for textured effects, with ink pulled up in places to create a loose, sketchy appearance. The use of dark brown ink on laid paper adds to the overall aesthetic.
Context
Whistler was a proponent of 'art for art's sake,' prioritizing aesthetic experience over narrative or moral content. His work often eschewed sentimentality and moral themes, focusing on the formal qualities of the artwork.
Own this work as a print
Artist & collection
Artist
James Abbott McNeill Whistler (; July 10, 1834 – July 17, 1903) was an American painter in oils and watercolor, and printmaker, active during the American Gilded Age and based primarily in the United Kingdom.
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